GEN. JOHN GLOVER 



AND HIS 



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MABBLBHEAI) BEQIMENT 




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From painting in possession of Mrs. Henry E. Waitc. 




GEN. JOHN GLOVER 

AND HIS 

MARBLEHEAD REGIMENT 

IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 

A PAPER READ BEFORE THE 

MARBLEHEAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

MAY 14, 1903 

NATHAN P.^^ SANBORN ^'f* /m mT 

PRKSIDRNT OF THK «;OrTRTV i ITS » «JS| M / f^ ' 

0d' 



PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY 



PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY tj) // 

1903 ^ ^ 




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PREFACE. 

In Marblehead for thirty years, and more, 
after the Revolutionary War, the familiar 
forms of the veterans of that hard and long 
continued struggle were seen walking back 
and forth at the heads of the wharves, on 
Irving 's Hill, or at the street corners, and 
the story they told of battles fought, of 
marches and of camp life was as familiar, 
throughout the town, to old and young, as 
any household words. But it was so evenly 
matched with the scenes of every day life, 
the hazards and storms at sea, of spars carried 
away and anchors lost and the vessel on 
beam-ends, of sailing to the Banks and never 
returning, that the two stories blended into 
one, and each life as a whole was a life of 
adventure, toil and danger; and rarely was 
a careful record made of passing events ; so 
that many a story of real life, more thrilling 
than that of any fiction, has been forgotten 



4 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

and lost. When, about two years ago the 
Bronx Chapter of The Daughters of the 
American Revolution of Mount Vernon, 
N. Y., placed a bronze tablet on "Glover's 
Rock," many asked: "Where is Glover's 
Rock? and what does it mean? ' ' and were sur- 
prised to learn that it marked the spot where 
General Glover met the enemy, more than 
five times his number, and fought one of the 
most skilful and successful battles of the war. 
This aroused a long cherished wish of the 
author to follow General Glover and his 
regiment through the war of the Revolu- 
tion. Under that inspiration the following 
paper was prepared and presented to the 
Marblehead Historical Society, May 14, 1903. 
"Glover's Rock," which in its vicinity 
has been known by that name since the days 
of the Revolution, is a great rock or boulder 
by the side of the road from Pelham to Pell's 
Point. City Island is off the Point. The 
city of New York has recently acquired this 
whole territory of twenty-three hundred 
acres, in the midst of which is "Glover's 
Rock," and set it apart as a public park to 
be known as Pelham Bay Park. 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 5 

The road over which the British troops 
marched and in which Glover met them and 
fought the battle of Pell's Point is still the 
highway from Pelham to the Point; and 
the stone wall, behind which he placed Read, 
Shepard and Baldwin, remained until a few 
years ago, when the road was macadamized. 
The stones were taken, broken and crushed 
to make the " macadam," and when the street 
railway was built several cannon balls were 
dug from the earth near Glover's Rock. 

June, 1903. 



Gen. John Glover and his Marblehead 
Regiment in the Revolutionary War. 

Charles Glover came from England to 
Salem in 1630. John Glover, who was born 
in Salem, and married Mary Guppy of Salem, 
January 2, 1660, is supposed to be the son 
of the immigrant Charles. 

Jonathan, son of John, was born April, 
1677, and married Abigail Henderson, March 
31, 1697. 

Jonathan, Jr., son of Jonathan, was born 
December 4, 1702, and married Tabitha 
Bacon, February 23, 1727. 

The children of Jonathan, Jr., were: 

Jonathan, born June 13, 1731, married 
Abigail Burnham of Marblehead, October 10, 
1748, and was a hatter by trade. 

Samuel, born June 13, 1731, married Mary 
Andrews of Marblehead, August 20, 1751, 
and was a goldsmith by trade. 

John, born November 5, 1732, married 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 7 

first, Hannah Gale, October 30, 1754, second, 
Mrs. Frances Fosdick, both of Marblehead, 
and was by trade a shoemaker. (Hannah 
Gale was born in Marblehead, June, 1733, 
died November 13, 1778.) 

Daniel, was born January, 1734, married 
Hannah Jillings of Newbury, Decemiber i, 
1757, and was a blockmaker by trade. 

The following were the eleven children 
of John and Hannah Glover, all born in 
Marblehead : 
I St. John, born March 23, 1756. Married 

Fanny Lee, one child, Fanny. 
2d. Hannah, born May 15, 1757. Died in 

infancy. 
3d. Daniel, born April 8, 1759. Died in 

infancy. 
4th. Hannah, born April 19, 1761. Married 

Richard Co well, seven children. 
5th. Samuel, born December 19, 1762. 
Married ist, Martha Bowden, 2d, 
Betsy Skillins, three children. 
6th. Jonas, born April i, 1764. Married 

Sally Pierce, two children. 
7th. Tabitha, born December 8, 1765. 
Married William Brooks of Exeter. 



8 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

8th. Susannah, born March 28, 1767. Mar- 
ried Capt. Nicholas Broughton, 
five children. 
9th. Mary, born January 8, 1769. Mar- 
ried December 11, 1788, Robert 
Hooper, born February 3, 1766, 
thirteen children, 
loth. Sarah, born February 10, 1771. Mar- 
ried Samuel Lewis, one child, 
nth. Jonathan, born May 9, 1773. Died 
unmarried. 
General John Glover with his three broth- 
ers, Jonathan, Samuel and Daniel, removed 
from Salem to Marblehead when young and 
soon became engaged in the various trades 
that they had previously learned. 

John did not find the shoemaker's bench 
and the last quite to his taste, while the 
fish-flakes, the warehouse and the wharf 
presented stronger attractions, promised 
larger returns and more nearly met his am- 
bition . 

He soon entered the fishing business, and 
pursued it with tact and energy. His mar- 
ket was largely in France, Spain and the 
West Indies, and this led him to engage in 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER 9 

other mercantile pursuits. He was saga- 
cious, energetic and successful. 

At the outbreak of the Revolution he was 
forty-three years old, and for the times in 
which he lived he had accumulated quite a 
fortune. 

Stryker, page 134, says :" Glover owned 
a number of vessels, and before the war was 
extensively engaged in the fishing trade. He 
was an active and good soldier." 

Dr. lyoring before the Columbian Society, 
January 8, 1856, said: "He was active, 
modest and industrious, the friend of Wash- 
ington, the truest friend of freedom, the 
hero of Trenton." For many years he had 
been elected to offices of honor and trust and 
had served his fellow citizens in many ways. 

The military spirit had always been strong 
in Marblehead. As early as 1758 a full 
militia regiment of a thousand men was 
maintained in this town, then the second in 
the colony of Massachusetts in point of 
wealth and importance. 

When John Glover was elected Colonel of 
the Marblehead Regiment, he was not a 
novice in the military service, for he had held 



lo GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

the following commissions, the originals 
of which are said to be still in possession of 
his descendants : ' ' Ensign in the third mili- 
tary foot company in the town of Marble- 
head, under the command of Richard Reed, 
Esq. ; in the fifth regiment of militia in the 
County of Essex, whereof Jacob Fowle, Esq., 
is Colonel," and is dated March 12, 1759, and 
signed Thomas Pownall, Governor. 

His second commission was as "Captain 
Lieutenant in the military company of foot 
in Marblehead, under the command of Azor 
Orne, Esq., in the regiment of militia in the 
County of Essex, whereof Jacob Fowle, Esq., 
is Colonel." Dated February 12, 1762, 
vSigned by Francis Bernard, Governor. 

Third, as "Captain of a military company 
of foot in the town of Marblehead in the 
regiment of militia in the County of Essex, 
whereof John Gallison, Esq., is Colonel." 
Dated February 8, 1773, signed by Thomas 
Hutchinson, Governor. 

About May 22, 1775, the Marblehead Regi- 
ment was transferred from the militia which 
was in the service of King George, to the con- 
tinental service, and at that time officered as 
follows : 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. ^'^ ^^" 

Colonel — John Glover. M^ LIBRARY 

Lieutenant-Colonel — John GerrJ^ _^ ^ 

Major — Gabriel Johonnot. ^^!S*/I*6T0H ^' ^ 

Adjutant — William Gibbs. 

Captains — William R. Lee, William Cour- 
tis, William Bacon, Thomas Grant, Joel 
Smith, Nicholson Br ought on, William Black- 
ler, John Merritt, John Selman, Francis 
Symonds. 

Lieutenants — John Glover, Robert Harris, 
WiUiam Mills, William Bubier, John Bray, 
John Stacy, Nathaniel Clark, Joshua Pren- 
tice, Isaac Collyer, William Russell. 

Ensigns — Edward Archbold, Thomas Cour- 
tis, Seward Lee, Ebenezer Graves, Joshua 
Orne, J. Deveraux, Jr., Nathaniel Pearce, 
Robert Nimblett, Edward Holman, George 
Ligngrass. 

These excepting W. R. Lee, John Glover, 
Jr., and Edward Archbold were all com- 
missioned by the Provincial Congress, June 

23, 1775. 

William R. Lee soon after became Major, 
John Glover, Captain, and Edward Arch- 
bold, Adjutant, in the same regim^ent. 

The uniform of the regiment consisted of a 




12 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

blue round jacket and trousers, trimmed with 
leather buttons. 

February 26, 1775. When Colonel Leslie 
landed his troops at Roman's Beach and 
Lovis Cove, the Marblehead regiment, com- 
posed as it was of industrious citizens, were 
scattered from Newtown to Peach's Point, 
but they were hastily mustered by their 
colonel, John Glover, and were soon ready 
for any exigency that might arise. 

When lycslie's troops returned from Salem, 
Glover's Regiment was drawn up in line as 
they passed to the beach. 

From this time on, the daily drill became 
longer and more exacting. The men who 
had previously been under the command of 
Colonel Azor Orne, Colonel Jacob Fowle and 
Colonel Jeremiah Lee, were now, ( having 
seen the enemy ) being drilled by Colonel 
John Glover, not for a holiday parade but 
to face a stubborn enemy in an open field ; to 
stand a charge or to execute one ; to take a for- 
tification or to defend and hold one. They 
learned readily, and tenaciously retained what 
they learned. They had already learned and 
needed no lessons in the handling of oars and 
sails. 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 13 

June 21, 1775. Colonel John Glover with 
his regiment was ordered to join the army at 
Cambridge. 

The next day, June 22, Colonel Glover 
marched his regiment from Marblehead to 
Cambridge and joined the Continental Army. 

July 3, Washington took command and 
organized the American army. 

The first order given was to Colonel Glover 
to be ready at a moment's notice to support 
General Folsom of New Hampshire, or, if 
Colonel Prescott should be attacked, to move 
to his support.* 

In the early autumn. Glover's Regiment 
was encamped in an enclosed pasture north 
of the colleges. While in this camp came that 
half -dramatic scrimmage between the Marble- 
head fishermen and the Virginia riflemen. It 
began by their bantering each other about 
their uniforms, for the fishermen wore reef- 
ing jackets and the riflemen were clothed 
in half Indian costume. From words they 
proceeded to blows. Washington hearing 
of the disturbance rushed into the midst of 
them, taking two riflem.en, one in each hand, 

*See Appendix F. 



14 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

holding them out at arm's length, and shaking 
them, and ordered them to cease wasting their 
strength on their friends, and reserve it for 
their enemies. The disturbance was quelled. 

September 2, 1775. Captain Nicholson 
Brought on, a captain in Glover's Regiment 
was commiissioned captain of the armed 
schooner Hannah by General Washington, 
the first vessel in the American navy and 
the first captain's commission issued. Sep- 
tember 5, Captain Brought on sailed from 
Beverly in the Hannah on his first cruise. 
Two days later he captured his first prize, 
the ship Unity, loaded with military stores 
and ammunition, which he carried into Cape 
Ann. 

October 4, Colonel Glover with his regi- 
ment was ordered from Cambridge to Bever- 
ly (and marched that day,) that he might 
procure and superintend the fitting out of 
vessels for the navy. 

October 15. Two vessels, the Lynch and 
the Franklin, were ready to be manned for 
service. 

October 16. Captain Brought on received 
a commodore's commission and Captain 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 15 

John Selman and John Manly each a captain's 
commission and were ordered to the river 
Saint Lawrence to capture two British trans- 
ports that were expected with munitions of 
war for Quebec. They sailed October 21, 
Captain Broughton in the Lynch and Selman 
in the Franklin. 

It is said that Captains Broughton and Sel- 
man each drew his company up into line for 
inspection. The expedition was to be a peril- 
ous one. Neither of the captains wished to take 
with him a single man who had not in him 
the timber of which heroes are made. They 
passed up and down in front of the lines. 
The lines marched around them like the rim 
of a wheel around the hub. After a careful 
inspection, not one m.an was barred out. 
Each was both a sailor and a soldier. Cap- 
tain Broughton mustered seventy men, 
Captain Selman sixty-five men. 

October 21. The little fleet put to sea, 
to run the gauntlet of the British navy. It 
was like kingbirds among the vultures. 
The expedition was a success, but not in the 
way Washington had hoped. Broughton 
was three years ahead of the times. Four 



i6 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

days after Brought on had sailed, Congress 
appointed a committee to devise means for 
capturing the two British transports. 

October 28. The schooner Lee was 
ready to sail. Captain Manly had shipped 
his crew largely from Glover's Regiment, and 
that accounts in part for the daring and suc- 
cessful cruise in Massachusetts Bay, which 
was only a prelude to what followed. Manly 
was afterward in command of the frigates 
Hancock and Hague. He died in Boston, 

1793- 

November 25. Congress authorized priva- 
teering. 

November 28. Congress adopted rules 
for the navy. 

December 13. Congress resolved to build 
thirteen ships for the navy. 

December 19. At the approach of British 
frigates Colonel Glover with his regiment 
was ordered to Marblehead, and then back 
again to Beverly to protect that place, 
which was thought to be in danger. 

Previous to December 22, 1775, when the 
first action was taken by the Continental 
Congress towards appointing officers for the 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER 17 

navy, Colonel John Glover had charge of 
the equipment and manning of the armed 
vessels and cruisers, that did such signal 
service at that time. He was practically 
"Secretary of the Navy" under Washington, 
until Congress took the matter in hand. 

January i, 1776. The old Marblehead 
Regiment by reorganization was made the 
Fourteenth Continental Regiment under 
Colonel John Glover; but the regiment was 
always better known as Glover's or the Mar- 
blehead Regiment. 

March 17. Boston was evacuated by the 
British. Carrington, page 154, says: "The 
troops embarked in one hundred and tw^enty 
crowded transports for Halifax; were wind 
bound at Nantasket Roads for ten days. 
General Ward, with five thousand men, en- 
tered Boston followed on the 20th by Wash- 
ington and his whole army. 

April 4. Washington left for New York, 
leaving five regiments in Boston and vicinity. 

May 17. Captain Mugford captured the 
powder ship Hope. Of his crew, twenty 
were volunteers from Glover's Regiment. 
Mugford was killed May 19, 1776. 



i8 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

July 20. Colonel Glover and his regiment 
commenced their march from Beverly to 
New York. They arrived in New York, 
August 9, and joined General Sullivan's 
brigade. There were no public conveyances 
at that time. When troops moved from one 
place to another it was on foot and usually 
with as much baggage as they could carry. 

August 16. Captain Fosdick, Adjutant of 
Glover's Regiment, and Captain Thomas took 
command of two fireships in the Hudson. 
Though they did not succeed in burning the 
two British war vessels, as they sought to do, 
they caused them to move down the river to 
their fleet, leaving the Hudson clear. 

August 27, 1776. The battle of Long 
Island, took place. It was an unequal con- 
test. Washington was hard pressed. He was 
outnumbered two to one. The coming on 
of night and a storm, brought him tempo- 
rary relief. The British loss had been five 
officers killed, twenty-one wounded; fifty- 
eight non-commissioned officers and men 
killed, three hundred and sixteen wounded. 
The American loss according to British re- 
turns, in killed, wounded and prisoners, was 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 19 

one thousand ninety-seven of whom one hun- 
dred and twenty-seven were Long Island mili- 
tia. 

August 28. Glover with his regiment 
was ordered to join Washington and crossed 
over to Long Island, arriving before noon, 
and took post at Wallabout Bay, on the left 
of the American army. 

August 29. After a conference with Colonel 
Glover, Washington wrote General Heath: 
'' We have many battalions from New Jersey 
which are coming over this evening to relieve 
those here. Order every flat bottomed boat 
and other craft fit for the transportation of 
troops down to New York as soon as possi- 
ble." 

Quartermaster Hughes was instructed "to 
impress every kind of craft on either side 
of New York that could be kept afloat that 
had oars or sails or could be furnished with 
them, and have them in East River by dark. 
Washington then called a council of war and 
laid before it his plan of retreat. It had 
rained in torrents and the wind had blown a 
gale from the northeast, all day long. 
Heath and Hughes acted promptly so that 



20 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

crafts of every kind arrived at Brooklyn 
just before dark. Colonel Glover's Regiment, 
which had already been detailed to that duty, 
took possession of the boats to act as seamen. 
The evacuation of Long Island immediately 
commenced. The wind and the tide were so 
violent that even they could not set a single 
close-reefed sail. Thole-pins were put in 
place, improvised or otherwise. Silently, 
with muffled oars, with long pulls and strong 
pulls, for more than three hours, back and 
forth they urged their boats. There was 
haste and speed but no confusion. At mid- 
night, the wind changed to the south, the 
tide had turned, the water became smooth, 
sails were set, the boats were loaded to the 
''gunnels," no moment of time was lost. 
Everything that could be moved by sail or 
oar was in motion. The work progressed 
rapidly. The men and munitions were all 
safely landed in New York. A thick fog 
hung over Long Island and the bay while it 
was clear on the New York side. 

The perfect success of the evacuation of 
Long Island by the Continental Army on 
the morning of the 30th of August, 1776, 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 2t 

was due to the sailor-soldiers of Glover's 
Regiment. There was no pulling and hauling 
for precedence, but the pulling and hauling 
was all for the main chance, the successful 
evacuation. Under their skilful manage- 
ment the whole was accomplished in less 
than thirteen hours. The American army 
was saved. The ten British frigates and 
twice as many gunboats and sloops-of-war, 
that moved up the bay that day, would have 
made the evacuation impossible, and Wash- 
ington and his army would have been lost to 
the Revolution. 

September 4, 1776. Colonel Glover was 
put in command of Clinton's Brigade and 
William R. Lee was appointed Brigadier 
Major. 

September 13. Colonel Glover superin- 
tended the evacuation of New York City, 
and with his brigade between 9 o'clock in 
the evening and sunrise the next morning 
removed five hundred sick to improvised 
hospitals on the Jersey shore. The tents 
and light baggage he sent by wagons to 
Kingsb ridge, but the heavy baggage was 
taken to the wharf and carried up the river 



22 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

by boat. Here again Glover's Regiment 
found and performed a special service. 

September 14. At 9 o'clock in the even- 
ing, after thirty-six hours of hard and con- 
tinuous labor and the evacuation nearly 
completed, Colonel Glover received orders to 
march his brigade to Harlem, eight miles 
distant and join General McDougall. Before 
reaching Harlem, he received orders to con- 
tinue his march to Kingsbridge, seven miles 
farther on. Arriving there on the morning of 
the 15th they began to unstrap their knap- 
sacks; while thus engaged, Glover received 
express orders to return to Harlem and with- 
out stopping for rest or refreshments they 
took up the line of march to return to Har- 
lem. General Howe had moved up East 
River and landed near Kip's Bay. 

The Americans under Washington at the 
approach of the British were panic stricken, 
broke ranks and fled. No efforts of Wash- 
ington could bring them into line or stay 
their flight. A drawn sword or pistol pre- 
sented to the head was unavailing. They 
continued their flight toward Kingsbridge, 
until they met Glover and his brigade; 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 23 

their fearless, orderly and soldierly march 
reassured them. They halted, they fell 
into the ranks and marched back with him. 
General Glover brought them all into line on 
a hill ready to meet the British. Washing- 
ton would not trust men so recently in panic 
to face the enemy that day, and ordered them 
to fall back. 

The show of strength made a delay on 
the part of the British that Putnam im- 
proved by removing his thirty-five hundred 
men from New York City, thus completing 
the evacuation. He had been left there 
when Glover was ordered to Harlem. 

Glover's Brigade had marched twenty- 
three miles that day without rest or refresh- 
ment after two days and two nights of con- 
tinuous labor. Glover wrote: "We fell back 
about three miles towards Dobbs Ferry 
without food or drink, and camped for the 
night with nothing but the earth under us 
and nothing but the heavens over us." 

September 28. General Lee ordered his 
division to move to White Plains by the way 
of Dobbs Ferry. By his urgent advice New 
York Island had been evacuated bv the 



24 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

Americans and the troops moved up the 
river to retard the movements of the British. 
October i6. Glover's brigade ( in Lee's 
division ) was on the East Chester Road 
near Pelham to watch the enemy. 

PELIv'S POINT. 

Early in the morning of October i8th, 
General Glover with his spy-glass went out 
upon a hill-top near Hutchinson River 
to scan Long Island Sound and the coast, 
to know if the enemy was in sight. To his 
surprise he saw a fleet of British ships 
off Pell's Point disembarking troops and 
moving towards the Point. Glover was 
alone in command of his brigade with no 
reenforcements or support to fall back upon. 
Glover, in a letter written soon after this 
said : " I would have given a thousand worlds 
to have had some experienced general at 
hand to tell me what to do. He immediately 
sent William R. Lee to General Samuel Lee, 
three miles distant, for orders. But there 
was no time to be lost. He quickly made his 
plans and prepared to meet the enemy. 
Glover's Brigade at this time consisted of 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER 25 

four redments: the Fourteenth Continen- 
tal (the Marblehead Regiment of which he 
was Colonel ) one hundred and seventy-nine 
men fit for duty; Thirteenth Regiment, 
Colonel Joseph Read, two hundred and 
twenty-six men, ( Read was born in Uxbridge, 
March 6, 1731); Third Regiment, Colonel 
William Shepard, two hundred and four 
men, (Shepard was born in Westfield, De- 
cember I, 1737. Died, November 16, 1817); 
Twenty-Sixth Regiment, Colonel Loammi 
Baldwin, two hundred and thirty-four men. 
(Baldwin, born in Woburn, January 21, 
1745. Died, October 20, 1807. He was the 
propagator of the Baldwin apple.) 

General Glover, with his brigade of four 
Massachusetts regiments, in all, eight hundred 
and forty-three men, fit for service, met 
General Howe and his army of over four 
thousand British regulars at Glover's 
Rock, Pell's Point. The road leading from 
Pelham to Pdl's Point had, for a fence, on 
each side, at this place, a heavy stone wall. 
General Glover, with great skill, placed his 
men where they would do the best service, 
taking every advantage offered of position 



2 6 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

and defense. He placed Colonel Read on 
the right of the road, near the great rock, 
(since known as Glover's Rock,) with the 
stone wall for breast- works. A little farther 
back, on the left of the road, he placed 
Colonel Shepard, and still farther back on 
the right. Colonel Baldwin, each behind the 
stone wall. On the hill in the rear, where 
he had planted his three guns, he posted the 
Marblehead Regiment. Then Glover with 
forty men moved down the road to meet the 
British. After a little skirmish with their 
advance guard, which was quickly reen- 
forced, he fell slowly back until the enemy 
were within the range of Read's guns; when 
he and his men each rose from behind the 
wall, took aim and poured a terrible rak- 
ing fire into the ranks of the advancing 
enemy, from which, after a few rounds, they 
recoiled and fell back. Being reenforced, 
the enemy again moved forward but to meet 
Read's guns as before. Read held them until 
he had fired four rounds, then it was his 
turn to retreat and he fell back. The Brit- 
ish pushed forward, but only to meet the 
raking fire from Shepard 's Regiment on the 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 27 

left. Shepard held them for an hour and 
then retreated. The British thought they 
then had a free field and moved forward with 
a quickened step, but were soon brought to 
a halt by the guns of Baldwin's Regiment 
on the right that had been reenforced by 
Read. A severe battle followed, night was 
coming on. Glover fell slowly back to the 
hill where his guns were stationed. The 
British fell back to the road to New Rochelle, 
went into camp and waited until the 26th 
instance for reenforcements. 

General Carrington, in his account of this 
battle, page 235, said: "On the 17th instant, 
the First, Second and Sixth Brigades and the 
Third Hessian Battalion, with General Howe, 
were transferred from Flushing to Pell's 
Point at the mouth of Hutchinson River. 
When they advanced toward New Rochelle, 
Colonel Glover with his regiment made so 
persistent a resistance with a force of seven 
hundred and fifty men behind a stone wall 
as to check the advance guard until it was 
strongly reenforced, and earned for himself 
honorable mention in orders." 

General Glover in a letter to his mother, 



28 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

written the next day after the battle, said: 
''Our loss yesterday was seven killed and 
thirteen wounded, the enemy's loss, as near 
as I can learn was between two hundred 
and three hundred. *Abbatt of Pelham, who 
has made a special study of this battle, and 
of the Enghsh and German records (the 
Hessians reported to their home govern- 
ment ) said: "The British loss at Pell's Point 
was over eight hundred men; Glover's loss 
was eight killed and thirteen wounded." 
October 19. Glover and his brigade re- 
ceived in General Orders thanks from Gen- 
eral I^ee; and on the)2ist, in General Orders 
thanks from General Washington, as follows : 

\.^;-M M11.E Square, October 19, 1776. f 
General Lee returns his warmest thanks 
to Colonel Glover and the brigade under his 
command, not only for their gallant behav- 
ior yesterday, but for their prudent, cool, 
orderly and soldierlike conduct in all respects. 
He assures these brave men that he shall 
omit no opportunity of showing his gratitude. 
All of the wounded to be immediately carried 
to Volantine's Hill, at the second liberty 
pole, where surgeons should repair to dress 

*See Appendix A and B. 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 29 

them ; they are afterwards to be forwarded to 
Fort Washington." 

Headquarters, October 21, 1776. 
The hurried situation of the Gen. the 
two last days having prevented him from 
paying that attention to Colonel Glover and 
the officers and soldiers who were with him 
in the skirmish on Friday last that their 
merit and good behavior deserved, he 
flatters himself that his thanks, though de- 
layed will nevertheless be acceptable to them, 
as they are offered with great sincerity and 
cordiality; at the same time, he hopes that 
every other part of the army will do their 
duty with bravery and zeal whenever called 
upon, and neither dangers nor difficulties 
nor hardships will discourage soldiers en- 
gaged in the cause of Liberty and while we 
are contending for all that freemen hold 
dear and valuable. 

October 20, 1776. General Glover im- 
pressed fifteen wagons into the service and 
sent his brigade from Mile Square to East 
Chester and brought away two hundred 
barrels of pork and flour from so near the 
British camp that they could hear music 
and talking within. 

October 23. Glover attacked a party of 



30 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

Hessians of whom twelve were killed and 
three taken prisioners. 

October 25. Lee's divisions marched 
from Kingsbridge to White Plains. The 
baggage and military stores were entrusted 
to Glover's Brigade. All arrived safely. 

October 28. General Glover and his 
brigade were in the battle of White Plains. 
When the British moved on him they out- 
numbered him four to one. 

McDougall's Division was posted on Chat- 
terton's Hill to cover the march. The Brit- 
ish attacked and pressed him so hard he was 
obliged to withdraw. 

Glover had been posted on a hill nearby, 
covering the road to Albany and New Eng- 
land. The British then moved on Glover. 
He had three brass guns, one twenty-four, - 
one six- and one three-pounder, and three 
iron twelve-pounders. 

The British approached in four columns. 
Glover reserved his fire until they were in 
the valley, and then poured into them his 
well-aimed shot which threw them into such 
confusion that they were compelled to re- 
treat. They withdrew and went into camp. 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 31 

The British loss was twenty-eight killed and 
one hundred and twenty-seven wounded; 
Glover's loss, none. 

Another account: "Glover's Brigade was 
stationed on a hill near McDougall, the Brit- 
ish with twelve thousand men marched to 
the hill where Glover v/as awaiting them. 
Twice Glover repulsed them, then they re- 
treated." 

October 29. Glover was then stationed at 
North Castle with Lee's Division, and there 
remained until the last of November when 
Lee's Division, including Glover's Brigade, 
was ordered to join Washington, who was 
then retreating across New Jersey. 

December 10. Lee's Division under Mc- 
Dougall, ( Lee having been captured five days 
before ) consisting of three thousand men, 
moved to join Washington at the Delaware. 
They joined him about the 15th instance. 

December 25. Washington with his 
troops and military stores was on the banks 
of the Delaware; his boats were ready for 
crossing. But to cross seemed impossible. 
The river was full to the brink. Great 
masses of floating ice were constantly rush- 



32 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

ing by. The case was urgent. Washington 
called for volunteers to man the boats for 
crossing, and Glover's Regiment, and they 
alone, stepped to the front. The boats were 
put in their charge. Carrington said: 
"Glover, the man of Marblehead, a hero 
of the Long Island Retreat, was there." An 
army of eight thousand men, with the muni- 
tions of war were to be placed on the opposite 
bank of the river. That night Washington 
and his entire army were ferried safely 
across. It was effected before daybreak, 
in the darkness, through snow, sleet and 
floating ice. *Stryker, page 134, said: " Had 
not Colonel John Glover's splendid regiment 
of seafaring men from Marblehead, Mass., 
lent willing and skilful hand, as he had prom- 
ised they would, the expedition would no 
doubt have failed." 

December 26. In the Battle of Trenton, 
Glover's Brigade was with General Sullivan's 
right wing. His regiment at that time con- 
sisted of thirty commissioned officers, one 
hundred and forty- seven enlisted men, with 
two hundred and nineteen sick or on extra 

*See Appendix C. 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER 33 

duty. *Glover was frequently called upon 
for men for special service. 

January i, 1777. William R. Lee was 
commissioned Colonel and returned to Massa- 
chusetts to organize the Twenty-First Con- 
tinental Regiment. Many of the officers 
and men of this new regiment were from 
Marblehead. 

February 23. Congress appointed Colonel 
John Glover Brigadier General. He joined 
Washington at Peekskill and took command 
of his brigade. On receipt of Washington's 
letter urging him so to do, on April 26, he 
accepted the Brigadier's Commission and 
June 15th took command under Putnam. 

June. Generals McDougall, Parsons and 
Glover were sent from near Kingsbridge to 
Middlebrook. 

June 15. General Glover and his brigade 
are at Peekskill and camped there until the 
2ist instance. (His troops " without coats, 
breeches, stockings or shoes.") 

July 27. General Glover with his brigade 
sailed from Peekskill to Saratoga. 

August 3. They marched to Stillwater. 

*See Appendix D. 



34 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

August 19. The army retreated to Van 
Schaick's Island. General Gates then took 
command of the army, including Glover's 
Brigade, and moved up the river to Bemis 
Heights. 

The following extract from a letter written 
at this time to Jonathan Glover and Azor 
Orne will help us to know Glover as a man 
as well as a soldier: 
Van Schaick's Island, September 5, 1777. 

Dear Sirs: — Our 

troops are healthy and in good spirits, but 
poorly shod and clothed and many without 
blankets. The Honorable Brigadier General 
Palmer and Doctor Taylor are witnesses of 
this, as they have had an opportunity of 
seeing for themselves. 

I should have been happy to see more of 
my friends with them, particularly Messrs. 
Glover, Orne and Gerry, who, (if I mistake 
not,) gave me some encouragement when I 
left them, but being engaged in the Public 
Service has prevented. I have too much 
charity to suppose private interest, or the 
fear of a little fatigue has kept them back. 
When matters look gloomy it has a fine effect, 
(it gives a spring and animates our spirits,) 
to have our friends to look at, and consult 
with; at the same time they would have an 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 35 

Opportunity of seeing for themselves as well 
as seeing the pleasure we enjoy in camp 
life; but more of this the next Tuesday night's 
club, at a meeting when all of the members 
are present, a good fire, pipes, tobacco, wine 
and good punch — that's the place to talk 
matters over, not in this house made of 
hemp, ( I have quitted my log house men- 
tioned in my last ) the walls and roof of which 
are so thin they need no windows, nor do 
they obstruct the rays of light, or the rain 
passing through in the least. 

I acknowledge the receipt of Colonel 
Glover's letter from Wells the only one re- 
ceived since I left Peekskill, notwithstanding 
a weekly Post comes from Boston to this 
place. The Phaeton therein mentioned I 
beg he would make use of as freely as if it 
was his own; at present, don't incline to sell 
it, but should he not see me again, my desire 
is that he may have it, paying the value to 
my wife, for her and the children's support. 

My compliments to your good ladies and 
families, and my old friends, the Tuesday's 
club, including Reverend Messrs. Whit well 
and Story, one of whom I expected and 
should have been happy to have had as a 
Chaplain to my brigade, for want of which 
must do my own preaching. They possibly 
can do more good at home. I'm sure they will 
not be so much exposed and will live better. 



36 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

Adieu, my Dear Sir, and believe me to be 
sincerely your friend and most Obe'd Servt. 

John Glover. 

To Messrs. Jonathan Glover and Azor 
Orne, Esqrs. 

September 19, 1777. General Glover's 
Brigade was in the left wing of the army 
when a severe battle took place, under the 
immediate command of General Gates, the 
Americans holding their ground against the 
British under Burgoyne when night closed 
the fierce struggle. 

September 29, 1777. Glover wrote: "I 
ordered one hundred men from my brigade 
to take off a pickett of about sixty of the 
enemy, who were posted about half a mile 
from me, at the same time ordered a covering 
party of two hundred to support them. 
This being the first enterprise of this kind, 
and as it was proposed by me, I was very 
anxious for its success. I therefore went 
myself. . . . When I made the proper 
disposition for the attack, they w^ent on like 
so many tigers, bidding defiance to musket 
balls and bayonets. Drove the enemy, killed 
three, and wounded a great number more. 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 37 

took one prisoner, eight packs, eight blankets, 
two guns, one sword and many other articles 
of plunder without any loss on our side." 

October 7. Another general engagement 
took place. A part of Glover's brigade was 
held in reserve, but the Marblehead Regiment 
was under Arnold, and in the thickest of the 
fight. The camp was attacked and captured. 
It was one of the hardest fought battles of 
the war. General Glover had three horses 
shot from under him during the engagement. 
Burgoyne was compelled to retreat towards 
Fort Edward. 

October 11, 1777. General Gates ordered 
an attack on Burgoyne 's works, while, ( as 
he had been led by rumors to believe) he 
was weakened by the absence of a part of 
his army. Burgoyne knowing of this mis- 
take, prepared to make the most of it. At 
daybreak the troops began to move. Nixon 
had already crossed the Creek, Glover close 
behind, had entered the water, when he saw 
a British soldier, who claimed to be a de- 
serter. Glover arrested and examined him. 
On questioning him in regard to Burgoyne 's 
army, his ansv/ers were not satisfactory. 



38 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

Glover told him, " If you are found attempt- 
ing to deceive me, you shall be hung in half 
an hour, but if you speak nothing but the 
truth you shall have good usage." Then 
he said Burgoyne's full force was with him, 
well entrenched and in good position. Glov- 
er, though the junior officer to Nixon, sent 
off to him to re-cross the creek; and at the 
same time sent his aid-de-camp on horse- 
back with the deserter behind him to Gen- 
eral Gates, who examined the soldier and 
immediately countermanded his orders of 
attack, and began to make his plans to pre- 
vent the escape of Burgoyne. By Glover's 
timely discovery of the true condition of the 
enemy, the American army was saved from 
disaster, and the enemy caught in a trap. 

October 13, 1777. Burgoyne, with five 
thousand seven hundred and sixty-three 
men, surrendered — a bloodless victory ! 
Glover,* with his brigade, was appointed to 
escort the prisoners of war to Boston. 

November 7. Burgoyne's army under 
Glover's escort arrived in Cambridge. Col- 
onel William R. Lee, with his new regiment, 

*See Appendix E. 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 39 

was ordered to form a part of the guard. 

November 9. Hamilton writes from New 
Jersey: "Glover and Patterson are on their 
way down." 

December. General Glover was president 
and Colonel William R. Lee a member of the 
court martial for the trial of Colonel Henley 
at Cambridge. 

January to May, 1778. Glover's Regiment 
was at Valley Forge and suffered all of the 
hardships of that camp. 

May 7. Came the welcome news of the 
French alliance. A grand jubilee was held 
at Valley Forge. 

June 28. General Glover again joined 
the army, having finished the business as- 
signed him by General Gates, and was placed 
in command of Fort Arnold near West Point. 
The Marblehead Regiment, with others, was 
sent under Lafayette to Providence to re- 
enforce General Sullivan. General Glover 
joined his brigade while on their way. On 
his arrival. General Sullivan sent Glover 
to recruit two hundred sailors for fifteen 
days' service. 

August ID. Glover having secured in 



40 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

Boston, Salem and Marblehead, the two hun- 
dred sailors, returned to Providence. Colo- 
nel William R. Lee, having resigned, re- 
linquished his command to attend to private 
affairs that demanded attention. 

August 14. Sullivan moved to Quaker 
Hill near Newport. Though disappointed 
in the French fleet that had promised their 
support, and, instead, had sailed away, he 
prepared to move on the city, then occu- 
pied by the British. 

August 15. Glover's Brigade was on the 
left of the line under Bigelow, and Glover 
was on Sullivan's staff. 

August 20. The time of enlistment of 
many men having expired, they were urged 
by Sullivan to continue their service a few 
days longer. Many left, but the Marblehead 
and Salem men remained. 

Glover, with the other generals, remon- 
strated against the action of the French. 

August 28, 1778. The American forces 
removed from Quaker Hill to Bitt's Hill and 
were there attacked by the British. In the 
advance skirmishing, the American left was 
reenforced by Glover's Brigade. The fight 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER 41 

was severe. The loss was considerable on 
each side. The British were repulsed. 

August 29. A retreat was determined 
upon by a council of war. "The experience 
and good judgment of General Glover was 
conspicuous on this occasion, as on the re- 
treat from Long Island in 1776." "At Qua- 
ker Hill, * General Glover had distinguished 
himself by a valiant defense." 

As night came on. Glover's Regiment took 
command of the fiat-boats, and before day- 
light the next morning, had safely ferried 
across the Narragansett to the main land, the 
entire army, Sullivan, Greene and Lafayette, 
their divisions and munitions of war. Not 
a man or an article was left behind. 

On the morning of the 30th, one hundred 
sail of British vessels appeared in sight, 
bringing General Clinton's army to the rescue 
of the garrison. 

February, 1779. Glover was granted a 
furlough and returned to Marblehead. 

June 20. Glover, with his brigade, 
marched from Providence to join the main 
army, then in the Hudson valley. 

''Carrington, Page 455. 



42 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

July 23. Glover was ordered to Ridge- 
field to watch and communicate the move- 
ments of the enemy. 

November 25. Glover was at "Camp 
Peeks Kill" with his brigade in the field; 
"eight hundred men without shoes or stock- 
ings." The whole army, except Glover's 
and Nixon's Brigades, had gone into winter 
camp, but "they were enjoying the sweets 
of a winter campaign. ' ' 

Summer, 1780. Glover and his brigade 
were at West Point. 

September 29. Glover was a member of 
the court that sentenced Major Andre. 

October 2. When Major Andre was exe- 
cuted, Glover was officer of the day. 

Winter, 1 780-1. Glover and his brigade 
were at West Point, and was left with other 
troops to protect the Hudson Highlands, 
when Washington and the main army went 
to Virginia. 

October 19, 1781. Lord Cornwallis sur- 
rendered. Great rejoicing. 

We cannot fully appreciate or understand 
the feeling of the men and women of America 
on the receipt of the news of the surrender of 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 43 

Cornwallis. The feeling of anxiety and sus- 
pense, long continued, had been strained to 
the utmost. Strong men cried like children 
for joy, and wives and mothers walked about 
dazed, because the strain of suspense was 
ended. A single instance will serve to illus- 
trate it : 

On the Sunday after October 19, 1781, in 
the southern part of this state, a congrega- 
tion had gathered in the village church for 
public worship. The good old parson was 
in the midst of his sermon when the sound 
of a galloping horse was heard rapidly ap- 
proaching the meeting-house. The tithing- 
man started for the door to investigate its 
meaning. As he reached the door, a horse, 
all flecked with foam, was drawn in before 
him, and the tall, lithe horseman brushed 
by him and walked hurriedly up the aisle, 
and up the pulpit stairs. After a short con- 
ference with the minister, he turned, walked 
rapidly out again, leaped into his saddle and 
galloped away. 

The minister, through the open window, 
watched him till he disappeared and the 
sound of his horse's hoofs had died away in 



44 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

the distance. The good man then turned 
to his audience, composed of women, old men 
and children, and said: "My friends, this 
courier brings the grand, the glorious tidings 
that Lord Cornwallis, on the 19th instant, 
surrendered to General Washington and the 
Continentals. Now, if we were not in the 
Lord's house, on the Lord's day, I would 
call for three rousing cheers for Washington 
and the Continental army. But we are in 
the Lord's house, and it is the Lord's day." 
He hesitated a moment. His patriotism 
began to boil, and raising himself to his full 
height, he said : " Brethren and sisters, though 
we are in the Lord's house and on the Lord's 
day, what would be the harm in just going 
through the motions?" He grasped his 
manuscript, raised it above his head, and 
three times waved it in the air. His congre- 
gation was already on its feet, and three 
times a wave of white handkerchiefs and red 
bandannas rolled across the meeting-house. 
And then all was quiet. They expected the 
minister to go on with his sermon. But he 
could not. He did not know where he left 
off, and said, '' Now let us sing, Traise God 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 45 

from whom all blessings flow. ' ' ' When that 
was sung, he pronounced the benediction. 
There were many who could not leave their 
seats; they sat and cried for joy. 

The British were in possession of New 
York City, and Washington, as he always 
had done, saw the importance of holding 
the Hudson valley, and carefully guarded 
every strategic point, from Harlem to Lake 
Champlain. Glover and his brigade were 
still in the Highlands near West Point. 

November 12, 1781. Glover was in com- 
mand of a foraging expedition, and with 
his brigade, received the thanks of General 
Heath. 

Spring of 1782. Glover was ordered to 
Massachusetts to take charge of mustering 
and forwarding recruits. 

July, 1782. General Glover reluctantly 
retired from the army on account of failing 
health and was placed on half-pay by Con- 
gress. Congress would gladly have been 
just, if not generous, to all of the patriot 
army, but the poverty of the treasury pre- 
vented. 

Glover had put himself and his fortune 



46 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

into the Revolution. His vitality was near- 
ly exhausted. His fortune was absorbed. 
At the close of the war, he returned to his 
home broken in health but uncomplaining. 
He partitioned off a corner of his sitting- 
room for a workshop, and cobbled shoes for 
a livelihood. 

Five children were still dependent upon 
him. His oldest son had been a captain in 
his regiment, and, though young, had proved 
himself worthy of the trust. His youngest 
son was nine years old. Glover's wife had 
died November 13, 1778, while his brigade 
was in Rhode Island, after the battle of New- 
port. 

He was elected Representative to the 
Massachusetts Legislature in 1788 and in 
1789; a Selectman in 1787, 1788, 1789, 1790, 
1791 and 1792. 

January 30, 1797. General John Glover 
died in Marblehead, and was buried in the 
Old Burial Ground, aged 64 years, 2 months, 
25 days. 



APPENDIX. 

The two following letters from American Archives, 
Fifth Series, Volume II. 

A 
Mile Square, October 22, 1776. 

You no doubt heard the enemy landed all their 
army on Frog's Point, the nth instant, leaving only 
twelve hundred men in York, and there remained until 
the 1 8th, which was Frida3^ I arose early in the 
morning and went on the hill with my glass, and dis- 
covered a number of ships in the Sotind, under way; 
in a short time saw the boats, upwards of two hundred 
sail, all manned and formed in four grand divisions. 
I immediately sent off Major Lee express to General 
Lee, who was about three miles distant, and without 
waiting his orders, turned out the brigade I have 
the honor to command, and very luckily for us I 
did, as it turned ovLt afterwards, the enemy having 
stole a march one and a half m.iles on us. I marched 
down to oppose their landing, with about seven hun- 
dred and fifty men. and three field pieces, but had 
not gone more than half the distance, before I raet 
their advance guard, about thirty men; upon which 
I detached a captain's guard of forty men to meet 
them, while I could dispose of the main body to advan- 
tage. This plan succeeded very well as you wiU hereafter 
see. The enemy had the advantage of us, being post- 
ed on an eminence which commanded the ground we 
had to march over. However, I did the best I could, 
and disposed of my little party to the best of my judg- 
ment; Colonel Reed's on the left of the road; Col- 
onel Shepard's in the rear, and to the right of him, 



48 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

Colonel Baldwin's in the rear and on the right of Shep- 
ards, my own regiment, commanded by Captain 
Courtis, (Col. Johonnot being sick and Major Lee 
being Brigade Major), bringing up the rear with 
three field-pieces of artillery. Thus disposed of, I 
rode forward — (oh! the anxiety of mind I was then 
in for the fate of the day, — the lives of seven hundred 
and fifty men immediately at hazard, and under God 
their preservation entirely depended on their being 
well disposed of; besides this, my country, my honor, 
my own life, and everything that was dear, appeared 
at that critical moment to be at stake. I would have 
given a thousand worlds to have had General Lee, or 
some other experienced officer present to direct, or 
at least to approve of what I had done — looking around, 
but could see none, they all being three miles from me, 
and the action came on so sudden it was out of their 
power to be with me ) to the advance guard, and or- 
dered them to advance, who did, within fifty yards, 
and received their fire without the loss of a man; we 
returned it, and fell four of them, and kept the ground 
till we exchanged five rounds. 

Their body being much larger than mine, and having 
two men killed and several wounded, which weakened 
my party, the enemy pushing forward, not more than 
thirty yards distant, I ordered a retreat, which was 
masterly well done by the captain who commanded 
the party. 

The enemy gave a shout and advanced. Colonel 
Reed's laying under cover of a stone wall undiscovered 
till they came within thirty yards, then rose up and 
gave them the whole charge; the enemy broke and 
retreated for the main body to come up. In this situa- 
tion we remained about an hour and a half, when they 
appeared about four thousand, with seven pieces of 
artillery; we kept our post under cover of the stone 
wall before mentioned, till they came within fifty 
yards of us; rose up and gave the whole charge of the 
battalion, they halted, and returned the fire with 
showers of musketry and cannon balls. We exchanged 
seven rounds at this post, retreated and formed in the 
rear of Colonel Shepard and on his left; they then 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 49 

shouted and pushed on till they came on Shepard, 
posted behind a fine double stone wall; he rose up 
and fired by grand divisions, by which he kept up a 
constant fire, and maintained his post till he exchanged 
seventeen rounds with them, and caused them to re- 
treat several times, once in particular so far that a 
soldier of Colonel Shepard's leaped over the wall 
and took a hat and canteen off of a captain that lay 
dead on the ground they retreated from. However, 
their body being so much larger than ours, we were for 
the preservation of the men forced to retreat, and 
formed in the rear of Baldwin's Regiment; they then 
came up to Baldwin's, but the ground being much in 
their favour, and their heavy train of artillery, we 
could do but little before we retreated to the bottom 
of the hill, and had to pass through a run of water, ( the 
bridge I had taken up before) and then marched up a 
hill the opposite side of the creek, where I left my artil- 
lery; the ground being rough and much broken, I 
was afraid to risk it over. The enemy halted and 
played away their artillery at us and we at them, till 
night, without any damage on our side, and but very 
little on their's. At dark we came off, and marched 
to Dobb's Ferry, after fighting all day without victuals 
or drink, laying as a picket all night, the heavens over 
us, and the earth under us, which was all we had, 
having left our baggage at the old encampment, we 
left in the morning. The next morning marched over 
to Mile Square. I had eight men killed and thirteen 
wounded, among which was Colonel Shepard, a brave 
officer. 

Sunday, General Lee sent for and informed me 
there were two hundred barrels of pork and flour at 
East Chester, if the enemy had not taken it, would 
be glad if I would think of some way to bring it off. I 
sent out and pressed fifteen wagons, and at night turned 
out the whole brigade, and went down so nigh the ene- 
my, we heard their musick and talk very plain and 
brought off the whole. 

Wednesday, sent out a scouting party, principally 
from my own regiment, who met with a party of Hes- 
sians, and attacked them, killed twelve and took three 



50 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

prisoners. One of the slain was an officer of rank, 
on horseback; the horse was taken and brought off. 
We had one man mortally wounded of Colonel Bald- 
win's regiment. 

"Sunday, the enemy struck their tents, and were 
on a march in two columns, one to the right and the 
other to the left, towards the North River. General 
Lee immediately gave orders for his division, which 
consisted of eight thousand men, to march for North 
Castle, to take the ground to the eastward and north 
of them, about fourteen miles distant. We had not 
marched more than three miles, before we saw the 
right column advancing in a cross road to cut us off, 
not more than three-quarters of a mile distant; this 
being our situation, eight thousand men on the road 
with their baggage, artillery and one hundred and 
fifty wagons filled the road for four miles. We then 
turned off, and marched by Dobb's Ferry road, and 
got into White Plains about ten o'clock Monday morn- 
ing, after being out all night. We left General McDou- 
gall's brigade posted on a height between the enemy 
and us, to cover our march. About twelve o'clock 
they attacked him with a heavy column, supported 
with twelve pieces of artillery, who pressed him so 
hard, he was obliged to retreat, having twenty men 
killed and about forty wounded, and wholly from 
their artillery. 

" I am posted on a mountain, commanding the roads 
to Albany and New England; the enemy on one oppo- 
site, about one mile distant. We expect an attack 
every moment. I don't care how soon, as I am very 
certain, with the blessing of God, we shall give them 
a drubbing. Where you will hear from me next is 
very uncertain." 

B 

Extract of a letter from "Fort Lee" dated October 

19. 1776. 

Yesterday's affair was honourable to us. Three 
regiments, Glover's, Reed's and Shepard's of Massa- 
chusetts, under Colonel Glover who commanded the 
brigade, were advanced under cover to receive the 
enemy, marching out towards the country. Colonel 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 51 

Shepard was well covered under a wall and at thirty 
or forty yards gave their grenadiers and infantry an 
unexpected heavy fire, then a second and third, which 
broke the enemy so much that they ran away as fast 
as they could in confusion. 

They returned with field-pieces and outflanked 
our party, which occasioned our people to retreat to a 
short distance, where they rallied well and kept their 
ground against their cannonade and numbers. Our 
men behaved with remarkable spirit and coolness, 
and, I think, are in a good way to do great things. 

We lost a few, thirty or forty killed and wounded. 
Two deserters from the enemy say they lost one thou- 
sand, but really I have the best opinions to believe 
they lost one hundred and fifty or upwards, as our 
men fired with great coolness at a good distance. 
They are trying to surround us. It won't be easy; 
and I am mistaken if they don't meet some severe 
rubbers. 



The following is an extract from a speech of General 
Knox in the Massachusetts Legislature : 

Sirs: I wish the members of this body knew the 
people of Marblehead as well as I do, — I could wish 
that they had stood on the banks of the Delaware 
River in 1776 in that bitter night, when the commander 
in chief had drawn tip his little army to cross it, and 
had seen the powerful current bearing onward the 
floating masses of ice, which threatened destruction 
to whosoever should venture upon its bosom. I wish 
that when this occurrence threatened to defeat the 
enterprise, they could have heard that distinguished 
warrior demand 'Who will lead us on?' and seen the 
men of Marblehead, and Marblehead alone, stand 
forward to lead the army along the perilous path to 
unfading glories and honors in the achievements of 
Trenton. There, sir, went the fishermen of Marble- 
head, alike at home upon land or water, alike ardent, 
patriotic and unflinching, whenever they unfurled 
the flag of the country. 



52 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

D 

The following letter gives an example of the special 
service to which the Marblehead regiment was called. 
Peekskill, 23d July, 1777. 

I this day received orders from his Excellency, 
General Washington, to reenforce General Schuyler 
with my brigade. You will therefore please release 
the party I sent you the other day to man the ships, 
which consists of 2 sub'ns, 2 serg'ts, 2 corp's and 34 
men. Your compliance herewith will much oblige 
yours, etc. 

John Glover, B. Gen. 

To Gen. Geo. Clinton. 



Albany, 22 October, 1777. 

Sir: This will inform your Honour, that I have 
sent one division of the prisoners, consisting of two 
thousand four hundred and forty-two British troops 
by Northampton, the other by the way of Springfield, 
consisting of two thousand one hundred and ninety- 
eight foreign troops. I shall come on to-morrow with 
General Burgoyne and expect to be in Worcester in ten 
days, where I shall be happy to meet your Honour's 
orders. I have endeavored to collect provisions to 
serve them to Worcester; you will please to order on 
some to meet me at that place. I am with respect. 
Your Honour's Most Obed't. Set., 

John Glover. 

P. S. The number of prisoners, drivers of wagons 
bat-horsemen and the guards are at least six thousand. 
I am put to great difficulty to find provisions for them. 

To the Hon'ble Jer'h Powell 

F 

Headquarters Cambridge, 
July 3d, 1775. 
By his Excellency, General Washington, dated 
4 o'clock, P.M., it is ordered that Colonel Glover's 
Regiment be ready this evening, with all their accoutre- 
ments, to march at a minute's warning to support 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. S3 

General Folsom of the New Hampshire forces, in case 
his lines should be attacked. It is also ordered that 
Colonel Prescott's Regiment equip themselves to march 
this evening and take possession of the woods leading 
to Lechmere's Point, and in case of an attack there. 
Colonel Glover's Regiment to march immediately to 
their support. 



In the year 1772 the tonage of Marblehead vessels 
was more than twelve thousand tons. In the year 
1780, the tonage was only one thousand and nine. 

In 1772 there were one thousand two hundred and 
three voters in town, in 1780 there were only five hun- 
dred and forty-four. 

At the close of the war there were in Marblehead 
four hundred and forty-eight widows and nine hundred 
and sixty-six fatherless children. 



GLOVER'S ROCK. 

In this time of historic reminiscence every Marble- 
header will be glad to recall the heroic deeds that made 
the nation's birthday a day to celebrate, and especially, 
if those deeds were done by their own kith and kin. 
And they have a kindly feeling towards any w^ho join 
them in honoring those they love to honor. 

The Bronx Chapter, Mount Vernon, New York, 
Daughters of the American Revolution, on the one 
hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the battle of 
Pell's Point, unveiled a fine bronze tablet that they had 
placed on the face of that great boulder to commem- 
orate the heroic deeds of Glover and his little bri- 
gade on that eventful October 1 8 , 1776. 

The tablet is three feet six inches long by three 
feet wide, and bears the following inscription in large 
clear-cut letters: 

GLOVER'S ROCK. 

IN MEMORY OF THE 550 PATRIOTS WHO, 

LED BY COL. JOHN GLOVER, HELD 

GENERAL HOWE's ARMY IN 

check at the 

Battle of Pell's Point, 

october 18, 1776, thus aiding washington 

in his retreat to white plains 

Fame is the perfume of heroic deeds. 

ERECTED BY BRONX CHAPTER OF MOUNT 

VERNON, N. Y., DAUGHTERS OF 

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 

OCTOBER 18, 19OI. 



GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 55 

The local papers, in their report in relation to the 
unveiling of the tablet, made the following statements: 

"The occasion was the climax and crown of a year 
and a half of preparation and effort on the part of the 
chapter. Through their efforts and the generosity of 
friends, the desire of the chapter to mark the spot of 
this little known, but important battle, has at last been 
happily fulfilled. 

"It is a beautiful site in Pelham Bay Park. The 
unveiling was in the afternoon, under glowing October 
skies, and amid a large number of interested people. 
Opposite the huge boulder, known as Glover's Rock, 
a grand stand was erected for the chapter and guests 
of honor. . 

"The stand was beautifully draped with national 
colors and surrounded as it was with numerous car- 
riages filled with an interested audience, faced by a 
chorus of fifty public school children, standing close 
beside the historic boulder, made a picture long to be 
remembered. 

"The exercises opened with a chorus entitled Amer- 
ica for Freedom," by the school children, followed by 
prayer of dedication by Rev. O. R. Lovejoy. The 
Regent then introduced the speaker of the day, Mr. 
Edward Hageman Hall of New York City. 

"Mr. Hall's address was an eloquent plea for me- 
morials of the kind just erected by the Bronx Chapter. 
He urged silent, but impressive effect upon observers, 
both old and young, of such witnesses of glorious dcpds 
of the past, and pleaded for a reverent and discrim- 
inating memory of the annals of our country as one of 
the best guides to future conduct. 

"Mr. Hall was listened to with closest attention and 
received hearty applause. The chorus then sang 
"America," after which the Regent, Mrs. Sherman, 
dedicated the tablet in a short address, glowing with 
patriotism, and paying a graceful and appreciative 
tribute to Mr. William Abbatt, the historian, to whom 
the chapter owes so much. 

"At the close of Mrs. Sherman's speech, the tablet 
was unveiled by Marjorie Sherman and Donald R. 
Baker. 



56 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 

"Prolonged applause and murmurs of admiration 
greeted the handsome bronze memorial, which is the 
work of Paul Cabaret of New York. ( Master Donald 
R. Baker is a descendant of Nathan Forbes, one of 
Glover's men.) Then the entire audience joined the 
children in singing "The Star Spangled Banner." The 
benediction was pronounced by Rev. F. M. Taylor." 

Thus Bronx Chapter commemorates the heroic deeds 
of John Glover and his brigade, the first resistance 
offered to British invaders after landing on the main- 
land of Westchester County, the first tablet erected as a 
Revolutionary memento in the eastern shore of the 
county. 

Every citizen of Marblehead is grateful to the ladies 
of Bronx Chapter for this mark of appreciation of the 
heroic character, noble patriotism and military genius 
of Glover, so grandly supported by his fearless brigade, 
and on that account will read "General John Glover 
and his Marblehead regiment in the Revolutionary 
War" with a deeper interest, if possible, than they 
otherwise would. 



Ami 



